The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (nig), Zamfara Command, has arrested nine suspects in connection with the vandalism and theft of roofing zinc from Tsageru Primary School in Tsafe Local Government Area.

The Head of Public Relations, Umar Muhammad, made the disclosure at a news briefing in Gusau on Monday.

Mr Muhammad said the case began with a report from Abdulrahman Aliyu, the Education Secretary of Tsafe LGA.

“Acting on the report, operatives on September 8, at about 3:02 p.m., apprehended one Alhaji Haruna Amadu, 55, of Tsageru village—the suspect named eight other accomplices involved in the crime.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that between September 5 and 8, the suspects conspired to remove roofing zinc from three classrooms of the school.

“The arrested suspects are Alhaji Haruna Amadu of Tsageru, 55; Aliyu Aliyu, 40; Isah Umar, 40; Hassan Shehu, 35; Garba Ibrahim, 60; Ibrahim Lawali, 55; Abdullahi Usman, 35; Abubakar Ibrahim, 45; and Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, 40,” he said.

The image maker said all nine suspects confessed to the crime, adding that they also admitted attempting to bribe the District Head, Sarkin Gabas Aliyu, and the Village Head, Kabiru Salisu.

“However, both traditional rulers rejected the offer and warned them against the act,” the image maker noted.

He said the suspects further confessed that they carried out the act without the consent of the Zamfara Universal Basic Education Board (ZSUBEB).

They confirmed that they intended to sell the zinc to raise money to pay levies for access to farmlands during the cultivation period.

The command estimated the damage to the three damaged classrooms at N4,500,000.

“In a separate operation on September 10, at about 11:30 p.m., the corps arrested Mr Emmanuel Okonkwo, 58, at his shop at Bakin Tasha area of Birnin Magaji LGA.

“Okonkwo, who claimed to have run a chemist for over 20 years, confessed to dealing in hard drugs in conspiracy with two other accomplices identified as Yellow and Sadiq, who are currently at large,” he said.

The items recovered from the suspect include cannabis (marijuana) – 112 wraps.

According to him, the state commandant, Sani Mustapha, had directed that the drug suspect be transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation, while the nine suspects in the school vandalism case will be arraigned before a competent court for prosecution.

The NSCDC reiterated its “zero tolerance for criminality and economic sabotage” and vowed to continue protecting public infrastructure in the state.

(NAN)